WE HEAD INTO THE WEEKEND WITH SOME SIGNINGS, NEWS ON ORANGE COUNTY AND EVEN JOSE CANSECO

Some odds and ends on the day after this week's Independent Baseball Insider... Nelson Figueroa is getting another opportunity after barely taking the mound and eventually getting released out of the Toronto Blue Jays' major league camp this spring. He signed with the New York Yankees and is going to work for the time being at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, PA. The right-hander, who once threw two games for the Atlantic League's Long Island (NY) Ducks and turns 38 next month, has made his way into 145 major league games through the years (20-35 record) while pitching for six teams (Philadelphia twice). ORANGE COUNTY TO BE A ROAD TEAM It seems pretty certain now that the Orange County Flyers' (Fullerton, CA) re-entry into the pro baseball ranks this summer will be only as a road team in the North Division of the North American League. Godfather Media investor Dan MacLeith said this was the case to The Orange County Register although the story said the team will play about 60 games. The NAL had originally planned for a 96-game season. SIGNINGS, INCLUDING JOSE CANSECO Arizona has signed former Wichita, KS (American Association) outfielder Brent Clevlen, who originally left the Wingnuts last season to play in the Philadelphia farm system. He has been assigned to Class AA Mobile, AL. On the opposite side of the ledger, catcher Josh Johnson, with the Atlantic League's traveling Road Warriors last season, has been released after a brief time in the Baltimore organization. And how about Jose Canseco getting still one more opportunity. This time it is with the Can-Am League's Worcester (MA) Tornadoes. The longtime major league power hitter is 47, but then we must remember Jamie Moyer, now 49, became a major topic this week when he won his first game of the new year with the Colorado Rockies. JOHN LINDSEY IS IN MEXICO Remember the joy shared by so many in baseball when popular first baseman John Lindsey finally got a brief shot with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2010. He returned to the Dodgers' Triple-A Albuquerque, NM farm club last season, and while he does not have a major league affiliation this season he has taken his long-ball act to Mexico.

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